Bargain shopping at Hancocks

Well the discounts continue as our local Hancocks prepares to go out of business!

Yesterday I went to Hancocks and found they had some buttons for sale for 5 cards of buttons for $1.00. I bought ten cards of course! Buttons are something I never seem to have enough of or the right shade of. Thus I purchased those that were unique in style and of colors that I knew I did not have. Their J&B buttons were 30% off but did not find any that truly said "buy me".

I of course also purchased a few more patterns at 60% off. I kept searching through fabrics and could not find any that I had to have. I have to say their fleece fabric is really disappearing, I always thought they had way to much of that and not enough of the fashion fabrics. Of course, fashion sewing appeals to me more than sewing fleece.

I will post some photos or link to site to show the patterns I just purchased.

Pattern Purchases

These are just a few of the patterns I purchased at Hancock's last week.

Me wearing New Look jacket

I normally don't like to post photos of myself. However, many of you here or at other sites encourage me to show my garments with me wearing them. So here goes, here are some photos of me wearing my New Look 6619 jacket. I really enjoyed wearing it the day I did. I got numerous compliments.

I thought I would have issues with the collar. But I really didn't.

Simplicity 4074 Complete!!!!

Yeah, it is complete! For a fairly simple pattern, it took me longer to complete.

Some of this was dyedue to fitting concerns and adjustments. Some had to do with sewing decisions made--hand sewing hem instead of stitching it as instructions indicated and not being able to get a satisfying blind hem stitch on this fabric with my machine. I really want a blind hemmer machine!!!!!! I have no place to put it in my already cramped sewing room.

The fabric is a buttermilk knit from EOS. Hand sewing the hem on the skirt and the top was time consuming. The knit is not forgiving and made hand stitching difficult.

I think the pattern was drafted more on the small size. I used 14 for shoulders and armscye, changing to 18 at bust and then tapering back to 16 from waist to hip on the top. I should have stayed with the 18 from bust down. I did make a FBA using Sandra Betzina technique for princess seams from her Fast Fit book. This worked well. I also adjusted the shoulders for forward shoulder. This required me to adjust the length of the tucks at the shoulders on the front piece. I ended up having to let out the 5/8 seam allowances at the side seams, front/front side seams and center back seam from the waist down. It was a little more snug than I like to wear. I ended up using a 3/8 seam allowance from waist down in the areas noted above. For the skirt I used 18 from waist then gradually changing to 16 near hips and down to hem. This worked great. I did shorten the skirt by 1 1/2 inches.

I love the feel of the fabric. I like the look of the outfit and it does fit me better than it appears to look on Alma Marie. The skirt is swishy when you walk and I like that. Here are some additional photos of the top.

Top-Front and Back

Shoulder tucks

Sewing Related

I forgot to post last night that the other sewing related projects is "fabric buying". I just got this fabu fabric from Textile Studios. It is really gorgeous.

Around our area the signs of spring are so dominant. The flowers and trees are in full bloom. The predominant colors I am seeing are lavendar and green, so this fabric said spring to me even though it is a little dark looking with the black background.

This morning I have been catching up on blog reading and have been pointed to fabric sites once again. So many design dreams and such limited time!

Hancock's Closing

I visited our local Hancocks this past week and took advantage of some of their reduction in prices on some notions-needles, zippers, bias binding. While I was there they were reducing more of the fabric prices as well as patterns. I took advantage of their 60% off on Vogue patterns. They are not honoring the coupon that was in the flyer I received a week or two ago. Not sure why not, could not get a clear or satisfactory answer but I wasn't trying to be argumenative, just curious.

I also got a few Kwik Sew patterns at 50% off. I can not remember ever buying KS patterns at a discount, their prices are pretty reasonable anyway.

I hate to see the shop close. I did not buy a lot of fabric from them but was a good customer for many other things there. Particularly buttons and zippers.

Have you missed me?

I can't believe I have not posted here since last week. I have been busy and have gotten home later most evenings this past week. I have been doing some sewing or involved in some sewing related activities.

I am continuing to work on my Simplicity skirt and top. The skirt is complete except for the hemming. The pattern calls for the skirt to be machine stitched. With the design of the fabric, a stitching line going around the bottom of the skirt would take away from the flow of the design. So I will be either blind stitching it on sewing machine or by hand.

I worked on the top some more tonight. The front pieces with the tucked fronts are complete, the shoulder seams have been sewn, and the front facing has been stitched on as well. I have pinned the side front pieces to the front and will sew them tomorrow. That leaves the sleeves then the side seams. The pattern calls for attaching sleeves in the round, but with knits I prefer to stich flat.

When this pattern is complete, I will start on either the skirt or top pattern already cut out. It is nice to have some things waiting in the wings.

Sewing today-3/24/07

Well I finally got the skirt pattern cut out today. My DH even expressed interest in the style and said once I make it and perfect the fit I should make about three more of this style. Will see about that.

Meanwhile I decided to start sewing on the Simplicity pattern-skirt and top. I threaded my serger and edge finished the skirt pieces. Truly the skirt could be sewn completely on the serger except for the elastic waist; but I am not sure of the fit of the pattern and decided to just edge finish the seams and sew the seams on my sewing machine. Once this skirt pattern is perfected, future knit skirts using this pattern I will probably just serge it all.

I had a busy day today. I decided to grill our dinner tonight on our new gas grill. I love to grill and have always used charcoal. I decided to purchase a gas grill and cooking is a little different but yet the same. I fixed porterhouse steaks, bake potatoes (cooked in microwave and oven), toss salad and tea. Even grilled Texas Garlic Bread. Today was also major shopping day for groceries and such, and I made time to go to CURVES; so I am pleased that I accomplished what I did in my sewing room today.

Tomorrow morning I will start again.

1945 Skirt Pattern

Well, I need to make a minor adjustment to the Eva Dress 1945 Skirt pattern. Again it is the sizing thing between various patterns. I decided to cut the middle size at the hip area and based on pin fitting pattern on me and Alma Marie, I should have gone with the larger size through the hip area. Not a big fitting issue.

I have read through the instructions. Does not seem complicated. I hope to cut out the fabric perhaps tomorrow night.

Metro Textiles Pass

Here it is-my Metro Textiles Pass!

I got my fabrics on Friday! I was truly pleased with my purchases. I did not take photos today of them. You can see the green/yellow/dark red fabric at Sew Distracted. Mardel bought fabrics from Kashi and hers was the inspiration for my purchasing the same. I also purchased the chocolate brown eyelet fabric also. This can be seen at Diary of a Sewing Fanatic. I have been searching for a dress pattern that I can use to make the eyelet. I have even given thought to making a skirt from it also and have been searching for the perfect one as well.

My Sewing Day-3/18/07

My sewing day has been very productive. I wish I could say that I began sewing as soon as I cut out things but that didn't happen.

I cut out the top and skirt (Simplicity 4074). Here is the fabric I used for my skirt and top. This is from EOS.It is a buttermilk knit.

I also embroidered as planned the back neckline of my T-shirt using my new Magna Hoops. They work pretty good. I am still concerned about the ability to hold the fabric steady using this system, but to do away with the sticky paper that gums up needles is worth the try from me.

I also continued my efforts to log my patterns and some fabrics on Stitch n Stash software. I am able to do this while I also cook dinner. My office is next to the kitchen. I like multi-tasking. However, sometimes I forget about items cooking!!!

I just realized I have not shown the fabric that I am using for the shell pattern. This is navyish shantung fabric, perhaps silk but I think not. Dark colors are hard to photograph, so used the pattern piece to help give an offset and to better see the fabric.

I also traced the 1945 skirt pattern from Eva Dress Co. Here is the fabric I am using for this.

This pattern looks fairly simple to make. I need to pin fit the pattern and hope to do that during the evenings next week. I am hoping this looks good after making as I have some other fabric that I think will make up well in this style.